Behavioral Health | Penn Today

Confronting the Opioid Crisis

Ph.D. candidate Clare Whitney of the School of Nursing counters the narrative that access to naloxone, which can rapidly reverse opioid overdose, encourages addicts to continue using. Whitney explained that naloxone isn’t the problem; access to proper care is.

Addressing unseen scars of a traumatic brain injury head on

Research at Penn Med explores the lasting effect of traumatic brain injuries on the nervous system to expand how we understand physical injury to the brain and behavior.

A new study from Penn researchers Joseph Kable and Caryn Lerman linked the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex to risk tolerance.

Risk tolerance linked to amygdala and prefrontal cortex brain regions

New research links willingness to take risks to brain structure and function, specifically the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and connections between the two.

As Opioid Overdoses Rise Along With Suicides, Experts Look for Links

Maria Oquendo of the Perelman School of Medicine discussed opioid addiction, noting that “anywhere between 25 and 45 percent of deaths by overdose” may actually be suicides.

The driving simulator at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Linking teen driving behaviors to ADHD, other mental health factors

Teen drivers are three times more likely to get into a fatal crash than their more-experienced counterparts. New research found a link between mistakes these new drivers make and self-reported ADHD.

Being hungry shuts off perception of chronic pain

Finding food is a necessary survival skill, but so is avoiding pain. Research led by J. Nicholas Betley and postdoctoral researcher Amber Alhadeff showed that being hungry activates a neural pathway that inhibits the sensing and responding to chronic pain. The findings offer up new targets for treating pain.

Taking steps to improve activity-tracking results

Activity-tracking devices like Fitbit are all the rage, but rarely used. A Penn Medicine health incentive expert explains why, and offers solutions.

ERs in Pennsylvania, Delaware Report Huge Increases in Opioid Overdoses

JeanMarie Perrone of the Perelman School of Medicine advocates “more robust responses” for opioid overdose survivors in emergency departments.

twisting tree limbs inside the shape of a head

Why Individualized Care Will Become the Gold Standard for Depression Patients

A personalized approach to care is effective, yet the ability to discern and provide the best option for a particular individual remains a challenge.

Pets pick up on their owner’s personality

When a baby is born, many new moms and dads pore over parenting books, striving to strike the right balance of firmness and warmth to raise their children into kind, intelligent, strong individuals. While nature plays a critical role, research supports the idea that parenting style and parents’ personalities do influence a child’s behavior.

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